[kristloken]

While I understand and generally support your view as an adult and as a kendoist doing kendo, my belief is that there are certainly groups and organizations which advertise these benefits and in reality do not deliver on any of it, and thus it is a mistake to apply all of these qualities across the board to all martial art groups. Very well said. I withdraw my earlier statement, and will amend it in the future to specify decent martial arts training. What you went through sounds like quite a terrible ordeal really, and points out how an average person can be taken in by a lousy instructor/school. I'm really sorry to hear of your past trials, but I am very glad that you seem to have learned from them and have gone on in a positive direction.

Cheers!